Autumn's Point of ViewWith my heart thumping in my chest, I felt a chilly terror. Had Kavan honestly told his father? Was my charade about to come apart? My eyes jumped from shadow to shadow as I hurriedly looked around the room.I then found him. Kavan stood far away, his face a mask of apathy. For a brief instant, our eyes locked, and a shiver ran down my spine. He turned aside, but I could hear his words in my head—a terrible whisper.Kavan's words rang in my head like a lighthouse among the turbulent sea of my anxieties. *I won’t turn on you.* I felt a flood of relief, almost vertigo-inducing in strength. I had to grab the balcony railing to keep from buckling at my knees. He had not turned on me. Not now.*When the time is right, I will do it in front of you.* His second message sent a shiver down my spine of a different sort. Though also a threat, it was a promise. On his terms, he would expose me. When he was ready.I inhaled deeply, the clean night air filling my lungs. I had
Kavan’s POVWith my heart a whirl of contradictory feelings, I rushed from Autumn's chamber. The door closed behind me, sounding like a gunshot across the still hallways. Not with the aroma of her still clinging to the air, a seductive reminder of the forbidden fruit she represented, I could stay there a moment longer.Seeking comfort in the cool night air, I neglected to go back to my own room. A mute observer of my inner struggle, the moon hung weighty in the heavens. I cursed and let out a primitive yell of frustration and uncertainty. I tore off my garments, shedding human skin like a snake sheds its old scales.I let my beast loose with a last terrible scream. Rising from the bottom of my spirit, he was a towering beast with midnight-colored fur. Shaking himself, he sent watery droplets flying through the air before launching himself into the darkness, his strong legs chewing up the ground under him.I started till my muscles hurt and my lungs burned. I ran till the basic urge of
Autumn's POV.The question came in again. I thought he had given up on asking that question. Considering our initial conversation, I thought that the light of the query concerning my intended journey that night had died off with the conversation about my enthronement as the queen mother. My utmost concern at that moment was to escape Matthias's presence. I only wanted to navigate his mind into another conversation, but still, his mind meddled around my night journey, and his question finally ignited the already dying fire of the question that I thought I had overcome, making me more uncomfortable and confused. I tried figuring out the most suitable answer to give, but none surfaced in my mind.There and then an idea lingered in my mind. To ask to get some fresh. I proceeded immediately with the thought, hoping to get a good result by finally setting Matthias aside, or better off, escaping his sight at that moment. I quickly made use of the excuse that came to my mind. “I'm sorry, Al
Kavan’s POV.“What did I just do?” The word echoed again in my mind. The realization was beginning to dawn on me as my mind started to process what just slipped out of my mouth. The jealousy that has been ranging in my mind finally got to me. I have been so obsessed with Autumn since I discovered her stay in the pack. I couldn't control the feelings I harbored for her. This finally generated intense jealousy and anger as I discovered that my father, the formal Alpha, wanted to make her the queen mother, thereby taking her fully as his. I tried fighting my lustful desires for Autumn and at the same time confined myself in my desperateness and undying quest to have them in my arms.Watching her intimately mingle with my father makes everything worse and unbearable for me. It's not my affair, and as such shouldn't bother me; she is the next queen mother-to-be and has every right to stay intimate with the formal Alpha, who will be her mate in no distant time, or, should I say, who is alr
Autumn's POVThe air around me seemed to buzz with fresh vitality as Matthias turned his back. I had participated in helping him to see my innocence and compliance. But my resolve was stoked by an adrenaline spike as soon as he left.With a voice almost above a whisper, I said, "I think I will stay out here a bit longer." My eyes turned to the dark, enigmatic expanse surrounding the Shadow Realm territory, the thick forest beckoning me.Mathias's brow wrinkled slightly with concern, his gaze darting across me for any indication of pain. "Are you sure, Autumn? It is late," he murmured, his voice tinged with anxiety.With an encouraging grin, I tried to allay his fears. "Yes, I will be fine," I signed, my hands dancing softly through the air. "I simply need some alone time to sort my head."My mind really was a flurry of contradictory feelings. The meeting with Kavan had rocked me; his intensity burned into my memory. My lie weighed me down, a continual reminder of the risk I was runnin
DAX’s POVWalking away from our meeting point, the forest remained calm; the only sound the crunch of leaves under my feet produced. The smell of autumn stayed in the air—a subtle blend of wildflowers and something else, something known. I shook my head, attempting to throw the idea aside. It was unattainable. She was not able to be.Still, the sensation persisted—a nagging awareness that I couldn't ignore. Although I had never seen Autumn before, something about her seemed oddly familiar. Her movement, head tilt, sadness in her eyes—all of it pulled at my memories like a half-lived dream.I turned aside the idea and concentrated on the current work. I led from a pack and had a sibling to save. No matter how interesting they could be, there was not time for distractions.As I returned to the renegade camp, the clean night air did not help to calm the anxiety that crawled at my skin. Usually a consoling hug of shadows and whispers, the forest trail suddenly felt sinister, every leaf ru
Autumn’s POVThe den of the healers was a sensory haven with chamomile, lavender, and a hundred other herbs I cannot name. That was a far cry from the rest of the Shadow Realm pack house, which constantly smelt of leather, musk, and underlying anxiety. Elder Elara, the head healer, led me over rows of drying plants and sensed a flutter of hope. Maybe this was the secret to keeping Renly alive and honoring my pledge to Dax.The healer's den engulfed me, a gentle hug of aromatic herbs and soothing energies.Elder Elara turned to me, her eyes gleaming with curiosity, her face marked with knowledge and compassion."So, child," she said, her voice as lovely as the fragrant air, "tell me what ails you."I took a long breath, the scent of lavender and chamomile filling my lungs and thus calming my stomach's restless flutter. Every word was purposeful, a subdued statement of my will.I watched as Elara's eyes grew wide with astonishment and a flutter of interest passed across her face. This was
Autumn’s POVAs Elara's accusing, heavy question hung in the air, panic shot through me. My head flew, frantically looking for a reasonable justification to help her relax her mistrust. I had to move fast before my slip of the tongue revealed my actual goals."I... I was just guessing," I signed with slightly shaking palms. "I assumed based on a lot of reading on the pack's past..." I trailed off, hoping she wouldn't raise the matter. "But it's not really important if there isn't one," I said, shrugging casually. "I was simply curious."Elara's shoulders released some tension, and her eyes softened. She answered, "Ah, I see," a little smile playing back on her lips. "Your child has a great curiosity. One should have innate curiosity regarding knowledge.Relieved she seemed to have embraced my explanation, I nodded. But I understood I had been fortunate. I have to start exercising more carefully going forward. One more misstep; my cover would be blown."As a matter of fact," Elara said
All did not sit well with me seeing Autumn become so flirty with my dad. I knew she had to be up to something, but I could not quite wrap my fingers around it yet.After my dad and she left, I was worried, and I decided to follow my instincts to go check up on her. I knew something bad was happening, and I could not just stay by and think about it.“Sunny, I have to go now. I will be right back,” I said. “Where are you going, Kavan?" She asked. “No, you don't have to worry; I will be right back in no time,” I responded. “Okay, I will be waiting for you here. Do not take too long,” she added. I faked a smile and left, heading to my dad's room.I could hear someone screaming and shouting from his room, and I knew all hell has finally broken loose; he must be trying to force himself on her again.I banged at the door, and I slammed the door open. My hunch was right. The sight in front of me was so gruesome, as I could see my dad on top of Autumn, trying to force himself on her.“What do
MATHIAS’S POV Autumn was being flirty with me, and she made it so obvious to everyone. I was sure she did not know if Kavan was being serious about Sunny or not, but I believed him either way."Mathias, can we go to your room, please? I feel like spending the night with you,” she said. Kavan looked stunned when he heard her say that and was looking at her for some sort of explanation; she ignored him and was persistent in going with me to my room.I took the opportunity and grabbed her waist, gesturing her to my room and leading the way. Oh yes, finally!” I said. I was filled with excitement as I beamed with smiles all plastered on my face. Autumn was trying to make Kavan regret his decisions by getting him jealous of me. Either way, I was enjoying it, so I did not bother to think much of it.“Kavan, I think we should go too. We have told dad what we came here to say,” Sunny said, almost dragging Kavan away. Kavan did not want to leave as he continued staring at Autumn, waiting for h
AUTUMN'S POV Marcus dragged me by my hair and forcefully started kissing all over my body. I felt so disgusted as I struggled to pull him off me. His grip on me was too tight, and I was unable to get him off. At this point, I was screaming and shouting, hoping someone would hear and come to my rescue. This was not the first time Mathias had tried forcing himself on me.The last time was when Kavan luckily came to my aid. Mathias had dragged me from Mrs. Potts room to his room and tried molesting me. I was trying to fight my way out, but his grip on me made it so difficult and hard to leave. I could hear banging at the door, and Kavan suddenly slammed the door open. He came to my aid again, and I knew he had a hunch about this earlier because he knew I would not willingly go to Mathias’s room unless I had a plan. “What do you think you are doing, dad?” Kavan said, pushing his dad off me. “Why are you here?” Mathias responded. “Shouldn't you be with your pregnant wife?” he added. “W
AUTUMN'S POV I was being flirty with Marcus, and I made it so obvious to everyone. I did not know if Kavan was being real with the pregnancy with Sunny, but I suspected it to be only an act to get his dad deceived."Mathias, can we go to your room, please? I feel like spending the night with you,” I said. Kavan looked stunned when he heard me say that and was looking at me for some sort of explanation. I ignored him and was persistent in going with his dad.Mathias took the opportunity and grabbed my waist, gesturing me to his room and leading the way. Oh yes, finally!” Mathias said. He was filled with excitement as he beamed with a smile all plastered on his face. This was part of my plan and also to make Kavan feel a bit jealous about it. I could see the jealousy all over his face, and he was very terrible at hiding it.“Kavan, I think we should go too. We have told dad what we came here to say,” Sunny said, almost dragging Kavan away. Kavan did not want to leave as he continued st
MATHIAS’S POV “You have always been selfish, Mathias; you have never truly cared about me or my feelings,” she said, trying to gaslight me. “Me selfish? How dare you say that to me?” I responded. “That is the truth; why don't you want to accept that fact?” she added, trying to instigate me to respond. I knew all she was doing and just played along with her tricks.“You are lucky, Autumn, that I am in a good mood, or else you know what I would have done to you,” I responded. “What haven't you done, Mathias? I still remember vividly how you raised your hands on me,” she said. “I cannot believe you would do such to me,” she added. “I did not mean that, Autumn, and you know that, you keep pushing me to the wall,” I responded.She was about to respond back at me, but then Sunny and Kavan suddenly showed up and told me that they had something to tell me..Kavan saw me and Autumn already there; it was as if she wanted to leave, but I was stopping her from leaving. Kavan and Autumn looked at
AUTUMN’S POV “You have always been selfish, Mathias; you have never truly cared about me or my feelings,” I said, trying to gaslight him. “Me selfish? How dare you say that to me?” Marcus said. “That is the truth; why don't you want to accept that fact?” I added, trying to instigate him to respond. “You are lucky, Autumn, that I am in a good mood, or else you know what I would have done to you,” he responded. “What haven't you done, Mathias? I still remember vividly how you raised your hands on me,” I said. “I cannot believe you would do such to me,” I added. “I did not mean that, Autumn, and you know that, you keep pushing me to the wall,” he responded.I was about to respond back at him, then Sunny and Kavan suddenly showed up and told Mathias that they had something to tell him.Kavan saw his dad and I already there; it was as if I wanted to leave, but he was stopping me from leaving. Kavan and I looked at each other briefly before we avoided each other's eye contact. We had to ma
KAVAN'S POV Sunny and I went to look for my dad. We had gone to his room after revising for the plan I told her already. “You know what to do, right?” I asked her. “Yes, I do,” she responded. "Okay, give me an example; express yourself,” I added.“No, it is not needed. I will do that when I see your dad,” she said. I did not argue with her and just nodded in response to her. We first went to my dad's room to see if he was there, but he was nowhere to be found."Dad,” I said, knocking softly on the door. “Are you in there?” I added. “Maybe he is not in the room,” Sunny said. “I guess too; let's go to the balcony or the dining hall,” I added. “Let us go to the balcony first,” she responded, and we both left and headed to the manor's balcony.There we saw my dad and Autumn already there; it was as if she wanted to leave, but he was stopping her from leaving. Autumn and I looked at each other briefly before we avoided each other's eye contact. We had to make it look like we got betrayed
MATHIAS'S POV “Did he catch you hiding?” Kavan asked her. She responded and told him that I did not, but I noticed her presence. “He did not see me; I made sure to hide very well,” she responded to him. “So when they both left, I came out of my hiding spot and quickly went to Mrs. Potts room, and then, I think, after a few minutes, he also came by to check up on her,” she added.“Did you try leaving when you saw him?” Kavan asked her. "Yes, I did try to leave, but he held me back,” she replied. I was spying on Kavan and Autumn and also listening to their conversations. After some while, I got bored of it and went to the library to cool my head off. After some minutes there, I asked a guard to request for Marcus to come to the manor. “Hey you, come here,” I said, sighting one of the guards I saw. "Yes, sir,” he responded. “I want you to call Marcus for me, get in touch with him, and tell him that I want to see him at the manor right now,” I said. “Okay, sir,” he responded and left.
AUTUMN'S POV I do not owe you any reply, Marcus.“ I responded to him. “Why can you not get that you are just a tool for Mathias? He is never going to trust or actually love you like his son; you are just doing this for nothing. Are you blind to see that?” I added.“Shut up,” he said. “You are working so hard for him, but when he is done using you, he is going to leave and dumb you without even looking back at all,” I responded. “Who asked for your opinion, Autumn? Why can you not just keep your mouth shut?” He fired back at me.“You don't own me, so I can speak and give my opinions whenever I want to,” I said. “You are not the boss of me, and you cannot control me, scumbag,” I added. I have had it enough with both him and Mathias; people have been calling me names, but I have just decided to keep calm all this while, but now I am so tired of it, I cannot take it anymore.“Since you are done barking Marcus, how about you leave?” I said. “I already told you to mind your business,” he r